Floor construction or the like



W. L. NIES AND C. R. BIRDSEY.

noos coNsmucnoN 0R we UKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 2 l9lb PatentedAug. 19,1919.

ZSHEETS-SHLETL.

W. L. NIES AND C. R. BIRDSEY. FLOOR CONSTRUCTION 0R THE LIKE. APPLICATION man oc. 2. 191e.

11516111611 Aug. 19, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- QQ@ O O g UNITED STATES'v PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. IES AND CHARLES B. BIBDSEY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS T0 UNITED STATES GYPSU'M COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

I FLOOR CONSTRUCTION 0R THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

. To all whom it concern.

floor constructions, and which more particu-- larlyv relates to an improved floor dome and filler block, each of suitable material and form, adapted for the use iithe construction of reinforced concrete floors or"the like. The invention has among its objects tlie=produc tion of the domes and filler blocks of; the kind described for construction purposes,

that are simlle, durable, efficient, and satis-` factory, for se wherever found applicable. It has particularly as an object the production of devices `o'f the kind described that may be employed in the construction of ireproof floors, roofs, 'and the like, where suitable reinforced concrete, or its equiva lent, is employed.

The invention has asadditional objects the production of thedevices described,`

which may be substantially or inex ensively constructed, and which may be sa ely, conveniently and economically transportedto where the same are to be used, and there installed. The preferred form of domes and filler blocks are constructed of gypsum rock, known as plasterof Paris, or any equivalent, which may be suitably reinforced, if

, desired. Our particular form of device,

although of light weight, is of such durability that it may be manufactured, handled, transported and set, as hereafter described, with a minimum of fracturing or breaking. When accidentally fractured, however, in handling, setting, orafter set, even thoughfract'uredto a considerable extent, the domes or 'liller blocks lare usable without in any way impairing the construe? tion of the building. The invention has as a still further object the production of a floor construction lin which the under surface or ceiling of the apartment below th'eloor will present a continuous surface with the samematerial, and with the same charactenstlcs, to whichplaster, if desired, is di rectly applied without the application of wooden 'or metal lath or fabric of any kind.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art .fromthe disclosure herein made.

To` this end our invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tion of a floor construction embodying the domes and filler blocks; v

Fig. 2 is a sectional View through twoof the domes and the thereby; p

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken lengthwise through one of the domes;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through 'a portion of a floor construction, illustrating a slightly modified shape of dome;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the same domes, and

Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.

Referring to the drawings, in which are shown floor constructions embod 'ng our domes and filler blocks, it may be rst mentioned thatin constructing floors of concrete or like material, it is desirable `to have the Hoor of minimum weight consistent with strength and durability. It is also desirable to have the floors constructed so that ,the concrete substantially forms properly de signed concrete beams which are reinforced with suitable reinforcement Ito increasef the tensile strength of the structure whenV needed. In making up the door, our domes and filler plates, or blocks, are employed, the same being suitably set and supported, and the concrete then eposited around and over the top of the same to form the floor.

The domes arel constructed of a body mass composed of calcined calcium L sulfate, 'or

gypsum rock, known as plaster of' Paris,

filler block carried porwhich when mixed with water, 'forms a.

liquid mass, which b crystalline action, quicklyy sets into a rigid body, the same being suitably molded into the desired'form and 'suitably reinforced 'while in the liquid state with a suitable reinforcing fabric. Each dome or body consists of a top 1, sides 2, 2, bottom 4L and ends 3, 3, making a closed box form. The top and sides, and if desired, the bottom, are suitably reinforced, as for example, by a wire fabric 5. The dome is preferably cast with the wire fabric 5 in the same, as mentioned, and so that it lies substantially close to theinner or lower face of the top 1, and extends close to the exterior at each side, and thence down. `By extending it close to the exterior of the sides, the same is not liable to pull the side walls in or cause them to break down when a load is put on the top during the construction. In most cases we prefer to extend the same across the bottom, overlapping the two ends, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. In constructing the dome, the top, the two sides and the two ends are preferably cast integral in a mold in any suitable manner, after which the same, when set, is removed from the mold, and the bottom suitably puddled in. However, any one of the walls may be puddled in to form the complete body of the dome, if desired, this being a matter of preference. Where the bottom is puddled or cast in as described, we

preferably provide a groove 7 in one part,

as shown in the body of the dome, about the interior faces, and the bead 8 on the other part, as, shown on the bottom, arranged to interengage with the groove in the body of thel dome, so that the bottom is securely locked inplace.

end at the top, and at an angle. We have shown recesses or vhand holes 6 in the ends of a size to fit the fingers, the same forming substantially handles at the ends, so that the domes are easily handled and carried about. One end is preferably formed with an opening entirely through to prevent escape of air in puddling in the last wall. The sides and such other portion as may be desired are preferably constructed on the exterior to engage with and be engaged by the concrete, so that the domes are locked in place and a secure construction obtained. For this purpose we have shown grooves 10 arranged on each side of the domes, and extending lengthwise thereof.

In using the domes, the same are preferably spaced, one from the other, at their sides, and arranged with their ends either` abutting or substantially close.' To fill the space at the bottom, we provide the filler blocks 11, of the same material as the dome, which, may behsuitably reinforced by Wire fabric 13, or its equivalent, if desired. These blocks are preferably arranged with a face 12 beveled or arranged to rest upon and be supported by the outwardly flared lower edge 9, of the domes, so that the domes being locked in place, by engaging the concrete the domes, so as to substantially form beams In the dome shown the. end partitions are set slightly in from the.`

may support the filler blocks 11. In Fig.

1 a partially constructed floor is shown, in

which 16 represents the floor surface of the concrete, which is poured upon and between 17, which may be suitably reinforced by the reinforcing rods 15. It may be mentioned that in constructing the floor, a suitable temporary supporting structure is provided, as for example as indicated in Fig. 2, by the parts 14, shown in dotted lines, which temporary structure carries the domes and filler lblocks until the concretehas been poured and has set sufficiently to be self-supporting, after which the framework may be removed. Plaster 18 (see Fig. 1) may then be applied to the bottom or lower face of the domes and filler blocks. It will be particularly noted in this connection that the domes and filler blocks form an ideal base upon which the plaster 18 may be applied, and the same being all of the same material, the plaster is uniformly supported, affording a most satisfactory completed construction. The concrete engaging in the grooves 10 supports the domes, and these support the flared `blocks 11, as described. The domes being the utility of the same in practically every case is not impaired, and the same, even if fractured, may be left in place.

The construction of domes and blocks shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is substantially similar to that previously described. The shape of the domes, however, is a little different, and various other minor changes are incorporated in the' same. Referrin to these figures, 21 represents the top, 22 t e sides, and 24 the bottom of the domes, which are provided with the ends 23. Reinforcement 25 of fabric is employed as shown.Y One or both ends may be puddled in, the same be. ing formed with hand holes 26, and one part with bead 28, and the other with coperating groove 27. In this case the sides are in# clmed and sides and to are provided with a series of recesses or epressions 30, serving the same purpose as the grooves 10 in the other construction. The Eller blocks 31 are substantially similar to those previously described, .and may be reinforced by fabric 33. Owing to the change in form or shape of the domes, however, the concrete beams 37 of the floor 36, which are reinforced as at 35, are of slightly different shape. This construction, however, permits the plaster t will be noted that with this style of' dome, that'while the same may be manufactured at the construction job, or where to be used, owing to their convenient construction and durability, the, may be manufactured where desired, an be very compactly stacked and shipped. While of eat strength, the are of comparatively ight weight, so t at' each one may be .easily handled by one man, the hand holes described making the handling most convenient. They are ireproof, as is the concrete, so that an extremely ireproof construction is obtained that is'of light weight compared with the strength, and which 1s economical to construct. It is to be noted that gypsum being a iireproof material of high order, in this method of construction adds more fireproofing, in most 'cases at least approximatelyone inch additional iireprooing, to

the reinforcing steel over other types of construction. A

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may bel made in the same without departing from the spirit of our invention; hence we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement and lcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A dome of the kind described, comprising a box-like body having integrally-- formed top, side and end walls, a bottom partition wall arranged on the interior thereof near the lower edges of said walls, the under face of said partition wall extending iius'h with the bottom edges of said walls, the partition and adjoining. parts of the body being arranged to interlock.

2. A dome of the kind described consisting of a hollow box like body, having side,

. end, top and bottom walls permanently connected together and constructed with a continuous reinforcement of wire fabric embedded therein and extending completely around the top, sides, and bottom intermediate the ends thereof, the sides of the body extending atan inward inclination toward each other.

3. A dome of the kind described, comprising a hollow body having a top, bottom, and side and end walls, said end walls being inclined upwardly from the bottom and -provided with openings near the upper portions thereof constituting hand holes, said top and side walls extending over and beyond the upper portion of the end walls.

4:. A dome of the kind described consisting cfa hollow box like body having side,

end, top and bottom walls, permanently connected together and constructed with a continuous reinforcement of wire fabric embedded therein and extending completely around the top, sides and bottom, said wire reinforcement in the top extending near theI underside thereof, and extending to adjacent the outer faces of the sides.

5. A dome of the kind described comprising a box like body having inte ally formed top, side and end walls, and a bttom partition wall located interiorly of the box like body near the loweredges of the side and end walls thereof, the under face 'of said partition wall extending fiush with the bottom edges of the side and end walls of the box like body, and marginal portions of the said partition and adjoining parts of the side and end walls of the box like body being provided with interfitting tongue and grooved portions.

6. A dome of the kind described consisting of a hollow box like body having. integrally formed top, side and end walls, a bottom partition wall arranged at the interior ofthe box like body near the lower edges of the side and end walls of the box like body, said end walls extending upward at an inward ,inclination toward each other from the outer ends of the partition, and .adjoining the top wall intermediate the ends thereof. i

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WLLIAM L. NIES. l CHARLES R. BIRDSEY.

Witnesses: 

